Casket cover



July 2, 1929. H. L. GILKEY CASKET COVER Filed Mai 2111928 19205:?? L.Glam);

Patented July 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES HERBERT L. GILKEY, OF NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

' CASKET COVER.

Application filed May 21,

The present invention relates to improvements in casket covers, and hasas one of its objects the construction .of a simple, efficientand'ec-onomical cover or jacket for protecting a casket, especially whenbeing handled.

Another object-,of the invention consists in providing a cover which canbe expeditiously applied'to or removed from caskets of various sizes andshapes;

A further object consists in associating with the casket covervaalifting harness-Which will loosely, but-positively, engage thecasketadj acent the'ends thereof, so that the latter may be easilycarriedon Stairways or in narrow places. I I I Other objects andadvantages of the invention w-ill become apparent from the followingdescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying-claims.

Referring; to the drawings, in which is shown a preferred embodiment ofthe invention,

Figurel is a perspective viewof theirnproved casket cover.

gum-2 is-a sectional view-taken substantially along the line 9r-2.ofFignre 1 Figure 3 'isa sectional view-taken substantially along the-lineofFigure 1.

Referring. to the: drawings in which like numerals-indicatelike-partsinthe several views,ll0 denotes a casketor cofiin cover, preferablycomposed ofan outer 1ayer-11 ofwaterproof fabric, and an inner layeror-lining 12 made of any suitable soft woven fabric. The cover-'10preferably comprises a top section 13, side sections Mia'ndendsections-lii which aresecured "together-at their marginal and junctionaledges byzthe'seams 16. One end of the cover, preferably the foot15,-has'a bottom section 17 (Fig.2) which extends a-limited'distanceinward,a-nd is-s'e'c-ured to. the edges of the end section 15 and theadjacer1t=edges of theside section- 16- by the stitching 18,:so? astoform-a closure for the adjacentwfoot end of ;he casket; 'lheheader-front end of the cover preferably terminates at'its lower: end ina verticalfree portion so as to permit the cover to be readily appliedor removed-from the casket.

As thefoot end of the casket issuhjected to the hardest usageg-it may,if desired, be provided with an additional fabric layer of padding.material for roteeting the; same:

. The cover 10 is of. s cii alengthas-to. b read-i il y; app-Lied? tevarioes sizes ehdi shapes of 1928; Serial No. 279;293.-

caskets and has associated'therewith a-pair of lifting harnesses 19 and20 arranged :t b connected to the cover adjacent the ends thereofby-mean's of the retaining members 21 and 22,v which members may consist'ofa transversely disposed piece-of fabric stitched to the top section13 of-the cover, so asto provide a lengthwise opening therethrou-gh.

The foot harness l9 is preferably composed of a: strap 2-3 which extendstransversely around the cover and through the retaining member 21 so asto engagethe bo'ttom section 17=adj aeent the=free end thereof. The endsof the strap 23 m-aytbe*detachably'oonnected together in=any suitablefashiorisuch' as by the quick release buckle 23, so th-atatheharness canbe. adj irstably-and securely. attached to the cover. The strap 23' is'prevented from loosely sliding-"through the retaining member 21 bya'fastening'means, such'asih'e' pin 24. A pair of; spacedstraps 25extend lengthwise over-th'e-footendoftthe cover; and are formed at theirupper and 1 lower: ends with the looped portions 26 ith-rough-i whichextend the adj acent upper-and lower horiiontal portions of thetransverse-"strap:23: The straps 25 are each preferably composed of apair of! superimposed members-27 and 28 made of leather ordurablefabrie-and'com nected together at spaced'inte'rvals by anysuitablemeans, such as. rivets or'th e: like 29, so as to form spaced handlifting portions 30, which permit the harness tobegrasped at the top orthe end ofthecover, so that the casket may be conveniently handled in 1the most awkward positions. Thehand'h'arnessfifl is substantiallysimilar inconstruction'to the harness 19 and 'is'provided' with atransverse strap 31 which passes through the retaining member 22,'andhas loos'ely= connected tovit a pair ofoutwardly extendiilg straps :32that are provided with the spaced 'liftiiigportions 33 formedbythe'rivets 3irthat= extend from the top of the cover down-.over'the endthereof, in substan-tially'the same manner as the hand-grips on theharness 19; 4

In order that the casketi-may be conveniently handled in awkwardpositions, such as when. being=c aErried up and down steps, the foot end15 and the adjacent portion of the sides 14 and bottom 17are'prefei'ably formed wit-lithe end openings 35" andith'eside openings36 which permitath'e hands-t0 be inserted underth-ecasket,anderrgage'the ahened formed aniciie leettomo the casket, forthis purpose. The ends 15 of the cover may be provided with a i'lexibiestrap 37 secured at one end to the cover. and how ing its opposite endarranged to be detach ably com'iected to a flap 38 so as to take up anyslack in the cover. To insure the cover fitting snugly on the casket, aretaining strap 3159 may be provided so as to extend through atransverse retaining member 40 attached to the section 13.

It will be seen that the cover may be qui lo ly applied to a casket, andwhen once in position. it will be impossible for the top of the casketor the head panel to fall off when necessity requires that the casket beplaced on end. Moreover, the cover is so arranged as notto interferewith the working of the rollers on the hearse table.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention here shown anddescribed is merely illustrative of a preferred embodiment, and thatsuch changes as fall within the purview of one skilled in the art, maybe made without departing from the spirit of the in vention, or thescope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. In combination, a casket cover comprising a body having top,side and end sections, and a lifting harness associated with the coveradjacent each end thereof, said harness comprising a strap extendingtransversely around the cover, and a pair of lifting straps extendinglengthwise over the adjacent end of the cover and having their endsconnected to the upper and lower horizontal portions of the transversestrap.

2. In combination, a casket cover comprising a flexible fabric bodyhaving top, side and end sect-ions, strap retaining members on saidcover adjacent the ends thereof, and a lifting harness for said covercomprising Straps extending transversely around. said cover, and throughsaid retaining members, lifting straps extending lengthwise around theends of the cover and connected to the upper and lower horizontalportions of said transverse straps, said lifting straps formed with aseries of spaced hand gripping means.

3. In combination, a casket cover comprising a fabric body having top,side and end sections, and a lifting harness associated with the coveradjacent each end thereof, said harness comprising a strap extendingtransversely around the cover, and a pair of lifting straps extendinglengthwise over the adacent end of the cover and having their endsconnected to the upper and lower horizontalpon tions of the transversestrap, and a series of spaced gripping means formed in said liftingstraps.

at. In combination, a casket cover compris ing a fabric body having top,side and end sections, a bottom section secured to one of the endsections and its adjacent side section, and a lifting harness connectedto the cover adjacent each end thereof'.'said harness comprising a strapextending transversely around the upper end of the cover, and a pair oflifting straps extending lengthw se around said end, said lifting strapshaving heir ends connected to the upper and lower horizontal. portionsof the transverse strap, a stran extmiding transversely around the lowciend of the cover, and ens)" dug the bottom section, a pair of strapsextending lengthwise around the lower end of the cover and having itsends engaging the horizontal port-ion of said last mentioned transversestrap.

5. A casket cover comprising a flexible fabric body having top, side andend sections, said top section having adjacent each end thereof a strapextending transversely around said cover, and a pair of lifting strapsextending lengthwise around the end of the cover and connected. to theupper and lower horizontal portions of said transverse strap.

6. A casket.- cover comprising a flexible fabric body having top, sideand end sections, the bottom section secured to one of the end sectionsand its adjacent side sections, and extending inwardly a limiteddistance from said last mentioned end section, said top section havingadjacent its ends strap retaining members, straps extending transverselyaround said cover, and through said members, each of these transversestraps having connected thereto a pair of spaced straps extending overthe adjacent end of the cover.

7. A casket cover comprising a flexible fabric body having top, side andend sections, a bottom section secured to the foot end section and itsadjacent side section, and extending inwardly a limited distance fromthe foot end section, a strap extending transversely around the upperportion of the cover, a pair of spaced strap-s connected at their endsto the upper and lower horizontal portions of said transverse strap, andextending around the adjacent end of the cover, a strap extendingtransversely around the foot of the cover and engaging said bottomsection, a pair of spaced straps having their ends connected to theupper and lower horizontal portions of said last mentioned transversestrap and extendingover the foot end of said cover, said end strapsbeing provided with a series of spaced lifting means.

8. A casket cover comprising a flexible fabric body having top, side andend sections, a bottom section secured to the foot end section and itsadjacent side sections, and extending inwardly a limited distance fromthe foot end section, and end side openings formed between said bottomsection and the adjacent foot end and side section, and a. lifting harness detachably connected to the cover ad jacent each end thereof.

9. A lifting harness for casket covers comprising a strap extendingtransversely around the cover adjacent the end thereof, and a pair oflifting straps extending over the end, said liftin straps having theirends connected to the upper and lower horizontal portions of thetransverse strap.

10. A lifting harness for casket covers comprising a strap extendingtransversely around the cover adjacent the end thereof. a pair oflifting straps extending over the end, said lifting straps having theirends connected to the upper and lower horizontal portions of thetransverse strap, said lifting straps being provided with spaced handengaging lifting portions.

11. A lifting harness for casket covers comprising a strap extendingtransversely around the cover adjacent the end thereof, a pair oflifting straps extending over the end, said lifting straps having theirends loosely conneeted to the upper and lower horizontal portions of thetransverse straps, and means detach-ably connecting the harness to thecover.

12. A lifting harness for casket covers comprising a strap extendingtransversely around the cover adjacent the end thereof, a pair oflifting straps extending over the end, said lifting straps having theirends loosely connected to the upper and lower horizontal portions of thetransverse straps, said lifting straps being provided with a series of.spaced hand engaging lifting portions extending from the top to thelower end of the cover, and means connecting the harness to the cover.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HERBERT L. GILKEY.

